embryonic

adjective

em·​bry·​on·​ic ˌem-brē-ˈä-nik 

1

: of or relating to an embryo

2

: being in an early stage of development : incipient, rudimentary

an embryonic plan

embryonically

ˌem-brē-ˈä-ni-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Examples of embryonic in a Sentence

The tourism industry there is still in an embryonic stage.

Recent Examples on the Web

This is what led to it being described as a protoplanet — an embryonic planet. —Keith Cooper, Space.com, 6 May 2025

The threat, while seemingly embryonic and lacking in any detail, has sent shockwaves through the U.S. and international film sectors. —Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 5 May 2025

What the director hadn’t learned at this embryonic stage was how to bend his perverse preoccupations into a compelling dramatic shape, or even into gross-out thrills. —A.a. Dowd, Vulture, 28 Apr. 2025

But in the short term, Soucek could play a key role in this embryonic stage of his vision. —Roshane Thomas, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin embryonicus, from embryon-, embryo embryo + Latin -icus -ic entry 1

First Known Use

1740, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing embryonic

• embryonic disc
• embryonic membrane

Rhymes for embryonic

• anharmonic
• anionic
• avionic
• catatonic
• cationic
• chorionic
• cosmogonic
• diachronic
• diatonic
• electronic
• excitonic
• fermionic

Kids Definition

embryonic

adjective

em·​bry·​on·​ic ˌem-brē-ˈän-ik 

1

: of or relating to an embryo

2

: being in an early stage of development

an embryonic plan

embryonically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Medical Definition

embryonic

adjective

em·​bry·​on·​ic ˌem-brē-ˈän-ik 

1

: of or relating to an embryo

2

: being in an early stage of development : incipient, rudimentary

embryonically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb